Steering apparatus for motor vehicles



Apiil so; 1929. Fg'w, BURGER ET AL 1,711,223

STEERING APPARATUS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES Filed Dec. 51, 1923 mmmmmmmmmm WG. ness Patented Apr. 1929.

narran STATES PATENT ori-loew FREDERICK Vf. BURGER, OF NILES, AND BERG-ER STOCKFLETH, 0F BERRIEN SPRINGS, llCHIC-AN, ASSGNOIt?, TO CLARK.y TRUGTRACTOR COMB'ANY, OF BUCHANAN, MCE-IIGAN, A CORPORATION OF `MICHIGAN.

STEERING AlPAR-.ATUS FOR MOTOR .VEHICLES Application filed December 31, 1923. Serial No. 683,720.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in steering apparatus for motor vehicles, and While primarily designed for vuse in connection with comparatively small vehicles of the kind that are employed for pushing or pulling trucks in and around shops, railway stations and other places for the 'moving of articles of various kinds from place to place, is not necessarily limited to that'particular type of vehicle. n

The objects oi' the invention are to provide in connection With the steering post' an iinproved yieldingly-supported connection bctwe'en the front dirigible supporting Wheel and the frame ot the machine, and to so connect the steering post therewith that the .vertical movements ofthe said that are caused by'such Wheel lirassingover uneven surfaces Will not be imparted to such post and to the opera-tor who has. hold of Jthe usual steeringl Wheel that such post carries ar its upper end; to provide improved'means ior lubricating the bearings for the Vertical standard that rises `from the yolre connected with the said dirigible supportingl Wheel; and to improve in various details rthe lconstruction and arrangement of mechanism of Vthe kind referred to. Theseobjects We accomplish as shown inthe drawing and'hereniaiter particularly described. is believed to be new will be set claims. l y

ln the dravvinggfa i y y 1 v Fig. 1 is a view showingin vertical sec- That which l'oprth in the tion ourl improvements, some parts being shown as part-ly breken away; and v Figs@ and 3y are enlarged horizontal sections taken respectively on lines 2-2 and EWS of Fig. 1. I j

Referring to the several iigures of the drawing-10 indicatesthe 'liront portionof the lil-aine of a shop tractor upon which vwilll be mounted the ingotorv and other operating parts, but which parts are not showin.' as they may be ot any ordinary construction and arrangement and form noA partot` our present invention. As here shown, this for- Vward pat of the frame has as its Wheeled support a vsingle Wheel 11 that is partially enclosed by and rotatably mounted bet-Ween the sides of a yoke. 12. Rising centrally from this yoke. and or" course rigidly connected therewi a vertical standard that dirigible Wheel projects through an opening inthe platform 13 that extendsacross the fra-me and 1s secured to such frame in any suitable manner.

'This standard, as Vshown by the dottedv lines on Fig. 1, is preferably hollow or coredl out throughout its length, bnt'might of course be of solid construction except at itsupper end Where it should be cored out suiiiciently to receive the end. of the steering post, as hereinafter described. The standard is indicated bythe numerals 14,15, the lower portion 1lil being of suiliciently .greater diameter than the remaining` portion 15 toprovide an annular shoulder 16 upon whichv is mounted an ordinary anti-friction device comprising a lower ring y17 and an upper ring 18, Whichtogether form raceWays for a seriesof balls 19-the raceway plate 1 7'vresting directly 'upon said shoulder 16. Fitting around the portion 15 of the standardis a cage that comprises an annular base 2O and a plurality of` arms 21 that rise from the base 20, said .arms being spaced at equal distances apart and rising` to a considerable height alongside oi and parallel-With the member 15 of the standard. These arms have their 'faces `curved so as to form between adjacent arms pockets each .adapted toi-receive and hold a strong coiled kspring` which rests upon the plate member 20, such coiled springs being indicated by 22. 1 y

,23 'indicates a casing annular in' cross-section that surrounds the spring-retaining .cage and, as shown irl-Fig. 3, forms the outer Wall ci the pockets in Which the springs. are

"located. This casing at its lower vendis shoivn as provided with a flange 2li that rests .upon the surface of the platform 13 and'` 1sv secured thereto by bolts 25. The upper end portion of 'the casing is of smaller diameter than the main or body portion, thus providing an annular shoulder 26 which extends over the upper ends of the variousv coiled springs 22,r andftakcs'their end thrust. -lt Will bev evident that, inasmuch as the springs are thus confined between theplate 2O of the cage and the upper end of the easing 23, such springs VWill act to normally hold the guiding Wheel 11 down, Valt-lfiough when such wheel passes over an obstruction the springs will yieldl sufficiently to compensate therettor viithout a corresponding` movement beine: imparted to the frame et the machine.

L. A Y

The upper portion 15 of the standard is provided with a bearing 27, which is remm'ably fitted in the upper end portion of the casing 23, by providing it, preferably, at its upper end, with a radial flange 27 a that is adapted to project over and rest upon the upper marginal portion of the casing, as best shown in Fig. 1. Said bearing fits snugly in the bore of the upper portion of the casing, but may be removed by moving it upwardly. The lower portion 14; of the standard is provided with a pilot bearing 28 which is located below the ring 17 and is removably secured between the lower end portion of the casing 23 and the upper surface of the frame 13, as also shown in Fig. 1. Said bearing is provided with an annular rib 282L on its outer surface, which rests upon the upper marginal portion of the frame 13 around the opening through which the standard 14 eX- tends, and fits into an offset portion or recess formed in the lower inner marginal portion of the casing 23. Consequently said bearing is held in place by the bolts 25 by which the casing 23 is secured to the frame 13, but may readily be removed when necessary. Said bearing extends down through theV opening in the frame 13, as well as up into the lower end of Vthe casing so that an extended support is provided for the standard. As shown in Fig. 1, a sleeve 14a is mounted on the portion 14 of the standard between it and the bearing 28 to take the wear. This sleeve may be removed and replaced when desired. It will be understood that the standard is adapted not only to rotate in the bearings 27, 28, but also to move longitudinally through them under the action of the springs 22. It should be noted that by locating the springs 22 between the upper and lower bearings 27 and 28 it is possible to obtain a considerable spacing between the bearings and to use springs of considerable length within a structure of relatively short, vertical dimension. 29 indicates a steering post provided at its upper end with a steering wheel 30 that is secured thereto in any usual manner. This steering post is necessarily connect-ed with the standard that is journaled in the casing 23, but while such connection must be of a character to permit of controlling the turning of the standard and its attached wheel so as to` properly guide the machine, it is undesirable to have such post partake of the frequent vertical .movements that are imparted to the standard because of the wheel 11 vpassing over uneven surfaces. For the latter reason the post 29 and the standard are telescopically connected. In order that the turning of the post may, however, control the turning of the wheel, the lower end portion of such post is provided, in the construction shown, with a series of comparatively long ribs 31 that engage with co1'respondingly-shaped grooves that are formed in the upper end of the member 15 of the hollow standard,v su eh upper end being thickened as at 32 to form a strong and heavy head in which the grooves for the ribs 31 are formed. By this construction it will be evident that while the post and the standard are non-rotatably connected together, so that they turn axially in unison, there is permitted a vertical movement of the standard that will not be imparted to the post and its attached hand wheel 30, whereby the operator who has hold of such hand wheel is freed from the shocks and jars incident to the supporting wheel 11 passing over uneven surfaces that he would otherwise sustain.

33 indicates a cap that is secured in any suitable manner as by a pin 33a to the lower part of the post 29, and is of a size and shape to lit snugly over the upper reduced end of the casing 23, and in order that it may be secured in place and at the same time be freely rotatable with the post 29, it is provided near its lower edfre with a plurality of short screws 34 that project into a groove cut in the wall of said reduced part of the casing. The provision of these screws that enter the groove thus provides ready means for enabling the cap to be attached and detached, and at the same time will of course permit the required rotation of the cap with the post. Furthermore, inasmuch as said screws hold the cap on the upper end of the casing, and the cap is secured to the steering post 29, said cap serves the purpose of holding the steering post in place, but it may obviously be re moved by disconnecting the cap from the casing. The cap 33 encloses the upper end 15 of the standard, and also serves to secure the bearing 27 in place, since, as shown in Fig. 1, it overlies the flange 27a of said bearing, being provided with an offset portion or recess to receive said flange. By removing the cap, said bearing is exposedso that it may readily be removed. The cap is to be made, as shown in Fig. 1, of sufficient height so as to permit of the desired independent vertical movement of the standard when the supporting wheel 11 passes over an obstruction. The interior of this cap, when applied as shown, provides a chamber well adapter to receive lubricating oil for lubricating the various bearings, and it is so utilized by the provision of an oil cup 36 that has a hollow stem screw-threaded into the Vall of the cap and communicating with a duct 37 passing' through such wall. It is evident that as the standard is independently moved up and down, the lubricating oil that has passed into the cap will tend to be compressed and forced down between the upper bearing 27 and the bearing face of the standard, and will drip from there down to and around the thrust bearing formed by the parts 17, 18 and 19, and thereafter drip down to and llO lubricate the lower bearing 28, thus keeping all of the bearing parts well lubricated. vWe preferably secure around the head portion 32 of the standard a diametrically split ring 38 that fits quite closely against the inner face of the cap and by its action as a plunger against the oil that enters the cap aids in forcing the oil downward as described. Tlie `ring 38 also serves the purpose of preventing disconnection of the steering standard and the vcasing 23 so long` as the cap 83 is in place. From the description given, it will be evident that the parts canbe very readily assembled and disassembled when required, andv that when in operative position they will so function as to'relieve the operator to a very large extent of the constant jars and shocks that he would be subjected to if no provision for independent movement of the supporting wheel standard were provided.

IVliat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

, l. In a steering apparatus for vehicles, ther combination of a frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor, a standard rising from andv connected with said support, a plurality of laterally spaced coiled springs grouped around the outside of said standard, anti-friction ydevices supporting the lower ends of said springs on'said standard, a casing secured to said frame and surrounding said standard and springsa-nd bearing upon the upper endsof said springs, and a steering post telescopically but non-rotatably connected coaXially with said standard. 2'. In a steering apparatus for vehicles, the combination of` a frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor, a standard'rising from and connected with said support, aV cage comprising a base surrounding` the standardand a seriesvof arms spacedV apart to provide a plurality of pockets parallel vwith said standard, means for supporting said Vcage from said standard, coiled' springs in said pockets extending above the upper ends of said arms, a casing secured to saidV frame and sui'- rounding said cage and bearing upon the Vupper ends of said' springs, and a steering post telescopically 'but non-rotatably connected with saidY standard.

3. In a steering apparatus for vehicles, the

`combination of frame, Va dirigiblewheeled support therefor, a standard rising from and connected with said support, a cage comprising a base surrounding the standard and a series `of arms spaced 'apart to provide a lplurality of ypockets parallel with said standard, an anti-friction thrust bearing supported from said standard, upon which thrustbearing said cage rests, coiled springs in the pockets of thevcage, said springs eX- teiidiiig abovel the upper endsof said arms,

f a casing secured to said frame and surrounding said cagev andbearing upon the upper the combination of a vehicle frame,

'cylindrical a cylindrical ends of said springs,

with said'standard. y

4. In a steering apparatus for vehicles, the combination of a frame, acasing secured to and rising from said frame, `a dirigihle wheeled support comprising a vertical' standard connected with said wheeled support and journaled in upper and lower bearings in said casing, a cap swiveled to the upper end of the casing and forming an oil chamber above said upper bearing, a split ring carried by the standard within said oil chamber, resilient means within the casing bearing against both the casing and the standard for normally exerting downward pressure on said wheeled support, and a steering post secured to said swiveled cap and extending' therethrough, said steering post beiiigtelescopi'cally but non-rotatably connected coaXially with said standard.

5. In a steering apparatus for vehicles,

a dirigible wheeled support' therefor comprising a.

standard extending upward through said frame, a casing enclosing said standard and kremovably secured to said frame, a bearing lfor the lower portion of said standard through which said standard is adapted to move longitudinally and rotatably, said bea-ring havingan external annular rib secured between vsaid casing and said frame, a bea-ring forthe upper end portion of said standard, a steering post telescopically-'and.non-rotatably connected with said standard, and resilient means in said casing between said upper and lower bearings for supporting the load on said standard.

6. In a steering appara-tus for vehicles, the combination ofy a vehicle frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor comprisingy a cylindrical standard extending upward through said frame, a'casing secured to'fsaid frame Aand enclosing said standard, bearing carriedl bysaid casing for the upper end portion of said standard, a bearing for the lower end portion of said standard, a steering post coaxial with said standard and telescopically and non-rotatably therewith,` a cap detachably secured tcsaid Acasing and arranged rto hold said steering post aga-inst endwise movement relatively to said casing, said standard extending up into said cap, means carried by the standard within said cap for normally preventing the withdrawal of said standard from said casing, and resilient means within said casing Vbetween said upper and lower bearings for transmitting the load to said standard.

'7.- In a steering apparatusl for vehicles, the combination of a vehicle frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor comprising standard extending upward ythrough Asaid frame, a casing securedl 'said frame and' enclosing said standard,

connected f and a steering post l telescopically but non-rotatably connected a bearing carried by said casing` tor the upper' end portion ot said standard, a bearing` for the lower end portion oit said standard, a steering post coaxial with said standard and telescopically and non-rotatably connected therewith, a cap arranged to hold said steering post against endwise movement relatively to said casing, said standard extending up into said cap, a split ring carried by the standard within said cap for normally preventiony the withdrawal ot' said standard from said casing, and resilient means within said casing tor transmitting the load to said standard.

8. In a steering.;v apparatus for vehicles, the combination of a frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor, a standard rising,` Jtrom and connected with said support, a cage comprising a base surroundingr the standard and a series of arms spaced apart to provide a plurality ot pockets parallel with said standard, means for supporting said cage on said standard to permit rotation ot the standard relatively thereto, coiled springs in said pockets extending` above thc upper ends of said arms, a easingv secured to said frame and surrounding said cage and bearing upon the upper ends of said springs, means at the upper end of said standard 'for securing said standard and casing together, and a steering post telescopically but nonrotatably connected coaxially with said standard.

9. In a steering apparatus tor vehicles, the combination of a frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor, a standard rising from and connected with said support, a cage comprising a base surrounding the standard and a series of arms spaced apart to provide a plurality of pockets paralle with said standard, means tor supporting said cage on said standard to permit rotation of the standard relatively thereto, coiled springs in said pockets extending` above the upper ends ot said arms, a casing' secured to said trame and surrounding said cage and bearing upon the upper ends of said springs, a bearing in said casing for the upper portion of said standard, means at the upper end portion oit said standard for securing said standard and casing` together comprising1 a split ring secured to said standard y above and extending over the upper end of said bearing, a cap enclosing) said ring and rotatably secured to the upper end o'tl the casing, a steering` post telesccpically but non-rotatably connected co-axially with said standard, and a bearing for the lower portion of said standard.

10. In a steering apparatus for vehicles, the combination of a trame, a casing secured to and rising from said trame, a dirigible wheeled support tor the trame comprising a vert-ical standard connected with said wheeled support and journaled in upper and lower bearings in said casing for rotative movement, an anti-'friction bearing having end thrust engagement with said standard within said casing, resilient means within the casing,` between said upper and lower bearings and bearing against both the casing and said anti-friction bearing for normally exerting` downward pressure on said wheeled support, a cap rotatably connected with the upper end of the casing, and a steering post ixedly secured to said cap'and` extending therethrough, said steering post being telescopically but non-rotatably connected co axially with said standard.

ll. In a steering apparatus for vehicles, the combination of a frame, a casing secured to and rising,` from said trame, a dirigible wheeled support for said frame comprising a vertical standard connected with said wheeled support and journaled to move 1ongi'tudinally and rotatably in upper and lower bearings in said casing, a cap: on the upper end of the casing and forming an oil chamber above said upper bearing, means carried by said standard within said oil chamber and operative by relative vertical movement between said standard and said chamber to torce oil down through said upper bearing, resilient means within the casing,` between said upperV and lower bearings and bearing against both the casing and the standard for normally exerting downward pressure on said wheeled support, and a steering,` post extending through said cap and connected coaxially with said standard.

l2. In a steeringu apparatus for vehicles, the combination of a vehicle frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor comprising a cylindrical standard extending upward through said trame, a casing enclosing said standard and secured to said Jframe, upper and lower bearings in said casing for the upper and lower portions of said standard, resilient means in said casing` for yieldingly supporting the load on said standard, a cap rotatably mounted on the upper portion of said casing, said cap being held against endwise movement on said casing, and a steering post rigidly secured to said cap and telescopically and non-rotatably connected with the upper portion of said standard.

13. In a steering apparatus for vehicles, the combination ot la vehicle frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor comprising a cylindrical standard extending` upward through said trame, a casing secured to said trame and enclosing said standard, a bears ing carried by said casing for the upper end portion ot said standard, a bearing for the lower end portion of said standard, a steering` post coaxial with said standard and telescopically and non-rotatively connected therewith, a cap rotatably mounted on the upper end of said casing, means connecting said. cap and said casing to permit rotation llO ' of said cap but to hold the latter against endwiee movement on said casing, said means being releasable to permit removal of said cap, said steering post being rigidly connected to said cap, and resilient means within said casing between said upper and lower bearings for transmitting the load to said standard.

lil. ln a steering apparatus 'for vehicles, the combination of a vehicle frame, a dirigible wheeled support therefor comprising a cylindrical standard extending upward through said frame, a casing secured to said 'frame and enclosing said standard, a bearing carried by said Casing for the upper end portion or' said standard, a bearing for the lower end portion of said standard,

resilient means in said casing for yieldingly supportingy the load on said standard, a steering post coaxial with said standard and telescopically and non-rotatably connected therewith, a cap arranged to hold said steering post against tively to said casing, said standard extending up into said cap, said cap forming an oil chamber above said upper bearing, plunger means carried by said standard within said cap and operative by relative vertical movement between said standard and said cap to 'force oil down through said upper bearing, and means Jior introducing oil into said chamber at a point below said plunger means.

- FREDERICK W. BURGER.

BERGER STOCKFLETH.

endwise movement rela- 

